Drain tile systems can be one of the most efficient ways to waterproof your home and prevent foundation problems, yet their installation requires special expertise and should only be handled by qualified professionals.
These systems are also known as French drains, footing drains or drainage tile systems and will be discussed here in greater depth in this article. Here we will also go over interior and exterior drain tile systems as part of this discussion.
Water enters the basement.
Many homeowners may have heard the term “drain tile,” yet may be unfamiliar with its meaning. Drain tiles refer to perforated pipes which drain excess water away from foundations and basement floors. Most new homes nowadays come equipped with exterior drain tile systems; if your older home does not, adding one easily and cost-effectively may be possible.
Poor drainage around a home’s foundation causes hydrostatic pressure to build up, pushing against its walls and potentially leading to cracking or seepage. A basement drain tile system helps avoid this situation by channeling water away from home and through foundation.
Installing an interior drain tile system involves having a contractor dig a trench beneath the basement floor and place a perforated pipe inside, covered with washed gravel to protect from soil erosion. Next, this pipe connects with a sump pit and pump which then empties its contents outside or into storage containers.
Proper maintenance will keep a drain tile system clear of obstruction or damage. Should one become blocked, however, or damaged in any way it’s vital to seek professional assistance immediately in order to avoid structural damages that could potentially cost thousands.
Water flows down the wall.
An effective solution to waterproof your home, especially if water intrusion in the basement is an ongoing problem, is installing a basement drain tile system. Water damage to structures can cause major structural issues that cost thousands to fix; for this reason a concrete foundation requires waterproofing systems as part of its infrastructure.
Drain tiles are porous pipes designed to divert groundwater away from your basement and foundation of your home, and reduce hydrostatic pressure caused by excess moisture in the soil that cannot be absorbed. Hydrostatic pressure forms when there is more water molecules than can be absorbed by soil particles; when this happens, hydrostatic pressure pushes against foundation walls and causes cracks or leaks in them; most homes with intruding water have basement leaks or cracks as a result; drain tiles prevent this by taking in excess moisture, thus relieving hydrostatic pressure and stopping any intruding water from getting inside, while simultaneously alleviating hydrostatic pressure by taking in extra moisture that would otherwise pressure, keeping it out.
Interior drain tile systems channel water around and beneath the basement into a sump pit for collection and disposal. They can be installed three different ways: 1) above the basement floor; 2) within the edge of the slab; or 3) underneath. These systems work by diverting water through perforated pipes pitched downward toward a sump pit.
Installing this system typically involves digging a trench around the inside perimeter of the basement and excavating a sump pit for drain tile pipe (usually flexible or rigid PVC) which will later be covered with gravel to form a sump pit, before installing a sump pump that directs water away from your basement and into an external drainage system.
Water flows into the drain tile.
Drain tile systems are designed to divert groundwater away from a home’s foundation, keeping basements and crawl spaces dry while also stopping any water entering through walls or floors. While it’s a powerful defense, drain tile systems often get overlooked when thinking about waterproofing homes.
Drain tile is actually an inaccurate term; perforated pipes used to control seepage issues in homes are known as drain tile. They’re typically installed either below ground in foundations or inside them – originally made of clay but nowadays typically rigid PVC; they come in all sorts of different shapes and designs but all serve the same basic purpose.
Interior drain tile systems provide a highly effective waterproofing solution for existing homes by collecting any water that gathers near or under their foundation, channelling it into a sump pit for disposal.
Installing an interior system involves digging a trench beneath the foundation and installing 10-foot long sections of PVC pipe with holes on one side and pitched downward so they reach the bottom of the trench and connect to a sump pump which can eject water and keep your basement dry.
Water flows into the sump pit.
Drain tile systems (a misnomer as no tiles are involved) collect any excess water near a building’s foundation and channel it away either directly into a sump pit or via drainage pipes to a sump pit or drainage pipe, in order to avoid costly flooding damage, mold growth and moisture-related problems in its basement. By doing so, they help avoid major problems associated with moisture such as water ingress and major repairs being needed due to excessive moisture build-up.
If your home doesn’t already feature a drain tile system, contractors can quickly install one for you. Breaking up concrete with jackhammers around the perimeter of your basement and digging trenches approximately one foot deep will be sufficient. Perforated pipe typically made from PVC is then laid into these trenches; in older properties this might have been red or orange clay pipes instead.
Drain tile systems are effective because they create an “arc of least resistance” for ground water entering your basement, acting like an invisible conduit for it to travel along its journey toward a sump pit or drainage pipe and eventually back out again into your living space. Surface drains may require drilling into finished basement floors or disrupt finished spaces; unlike this method, which does not involve surface drainage systems being dug. Our experience shows no evidence of drain tiles becoming blocked up; it is wise to test your sump pump regularly to make sure everything works as designed.